Vol. 508 No. 1
148 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the frequency with which livestock marts are inspected by staff of the legal metrology service; the way in which these marts are assessed regarding the legal metrology requirements; and the number of these assessments carried out in the past 12 months. [17522/99]
The users-owners of weighbridges used in livestock marts are, under the Markets and Fairs (Weighing of Cattle) Act, 1891, required to have the weighbridges tested twice yearly by the legal metrology service. Since that time, the technology used in weighing instruments has advanced significantly. Accordingly, account was taken of these advances in the drafting of inspection requirements in the European Communities (Non-Automatic Weighing Instruments) Regulations, 1992. These regulations prescribe that non-automatic weighing instruments should be inspected at least once every two years. Mart weighbridges fall within this category.
The National Standards Authority of Ireland has advised me that at least one inspection has been carried out on 148 weighbridges in 65 marts by the legal metrology service in the past twelve months. There are approximately 230 weighbridges in use in the 119 livestock marts operating throughout the country.
The assessment of weighbridges is carried out in the following manner: an evaluation of conformity of the instrument under test to an approved design is undertaken. This is followed by metrological tests using reference standards of mass to establish accuracy within legally defined tolerances. Upon successful completion of the examination and tests, official marks are applied to the instrument signifying conformity.
149 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the legal metrology service is staffed to full capacity; the staffing levels at the Cork, Dundalk and Athlone centres; if premises or vehicles intended for the use of the service are idle in any location; and if she will make a statement on the staffing and resourcing of this service. [17523/99]
The legal metrology service became a division of Forbairt – the predecessor of Enterprise Ireland – in 1997 as a result of the Metrology Act, 1996. Prior to this, the legal metrology service had operated under the responsibility of various Government Departments and local authorities. Presently, it operates under the aegis of the National Standards Authority of Ireland by virtue of section 27 of the Industrial Development (Enterprise Ireland) Act 1998.
The legal metrology service currently has a staff of 31 people. A breakdown of the location of these staff is shown in the following table.
Legal Metrology Service – Location of Staff
|
Centre |
Number of Staff |
|
Headquarters |
5 |
|
Regional Centres |
|
|
Dublin |
12 |
|
Dundalk |
2 |
|
Waterford |
2 |
|
Cork |
2 |
|
Limerick |
3 |
|
Galway |
2 |
|
Sligo |
3 |
|
Athlone |
– |
|
Total |
31 |
